Scottish Executive

Digital Technology

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) businesses and (b) homes have access to broadband internet connection in each parliamentary constituency.

Iain Gray: The information requested is not currently available. However, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27832 on 23 August 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . This answer gives details of ADSL enabled exchanges across Scotland, those that will be enabled where sufficient demand is registered and the population coverage of these exchanges. All Scottish businesses and homes can choose to access broadband via satellite.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23849 by Dr Richard Simpson on 3 April 2002, whether information from prescription data is now available through the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency to collate the number of people who are prescribed methadone on a regular basis.

Dr Richard Simpson: The Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency aim to have the information available by the end of this month.

Drug Misuse

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports of offences under sections (a) 3(1), (b) 4(1) and (c) 5(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 were marked no proceedings in respect of each category recognised by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service computer in each of the last three years, broken down by sheriff court district.

Colin Boyd QC: The information requested is not readily available in the format requested and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The information systems operated by the department were designed for case tracking rather than for the production of statistical information. Systems currently in development will, in due course, facilitate the provision of data on a wider basis than is presently possible.

European Union

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg last week.

Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 14 and 15 October in Luxembourg, together with Elliot Morley.

  On fisheries, the agenda covered reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP); a recovery plan for stocks of cod and hake, and an action plan for fisheries management in the Mediterranean Sea. No decisions were taken.

  There was a policy debate on aspects of the Commission’s CFP reform package. This centred on access to resources, good governance, and control and enforcement.

  On access to resources, we stressed the need to maintain restricted access to coastal waters (such as the six and 12 mile limits and Shetland Box). We also urged the Council to support the retention of the quota allocation system within the EU, protecting the principle of Relative Stability among member states. In that context, we particularly emphasised the importance of the so-called Hague Preference, which we regard as an integral part of Relative Stability particularly beneficial to the Scottish industry.

  On good governance, we emphasised to the Council the importance to be attached to the proposed Regional Advisory Councils (RACs). We stressed the importance of getting their composition and remit right, and of ensuring that they are centred on the experience and knowledge of the fishing industry. We also argued that the Commission and Council of Ministers should give particular weight to any recommendations made by these RACs.

  On control and enforcement, we lent our support to various ideas designed to improve co-ordination and co-operation (and therefore a "level playing field") within the EU. These include proposals to extend satellite monitoring, and to facilitate inspections by Commission officials.

  There was also a policy debate on the Commission’s proposal for a Cod and Hake Recovery Plan. Most Member States acknowledged the need for urgent action. We emphasised the need to develop workable proposals based on the latest science, and based on close consultation with stakeholders. We indicated (as did others) that effort control might be a necessary part of any solution.

  The Commission also gave a presentation covering its action plan for fisheries management in the Mediterranean.

  The agriculture agenda covered three main issues: three specific proposals on food safety matters; the recent Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development, and the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

  The food safety proposals considered by Council covered the monitoring and control of zoonoses and genetically modified food and feed. There was some useful clarification of positions but it was not possible to reach agreement on this occasion.

  The Council assessed the agricultural priorities flowing from the Johannesburg World Summit and agreed conclusions accordingly.

  On CAP, the Council continued its consideration of the mid-term review proposals, concentrating on those concerning rural development and farm audits. Supported by a number of other Member States, we stressed the importance of a shift from production-linked support under the CAP to rural development programmes, and reiterated the importance of a fair distribution of funds between Member States. On the commodity side, there were discussions on new market measures for nuts and for rice. There was also a discussion on the options for change in the milk sector.

  Under other business, the Commission dealt with enquiries about olive oil promotion, aid to Greek cotton producers and negotiations with third countries over grain imports.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the results have been of the most recent research into links between salmon farming and wild fish stocks and what action will be taken in the light of such results.

Allan Wilson: Recent research results suggest a correlation between levels of sea lice on salmon farms and in the local marine environment. Proposals for further research into the distribution and behaviour of sea lice and their impact on wild stocks are under consideration.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Rural Affairs Committees 2nd Report, 1999: Impact of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning on the Fisheries Sector , whether any further money was made available for research into the causes of shellfish toxicity; what funding has been made available for such research in each subsequent financial year; whether continuing funding was made available to develop monitoring and testing regimes and, if so, how much such funding has been made available in each financial year since the publication of the report, and whether any research has taken place into the alleged link between fin fish farms and outbreaks of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) and, if so, whether it will detail what specific research has taken place.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that new research into the relationship between phytoplankton and algal toxin levels is due to run between January 2000 and September 2003, with costs of £450,275 spread over that period. On continuing funding to develop testing regimes, between August 2000 and August 2002, £266,779 was made available for assessment of new system for rapid detection of ASP and DSP (MIST AlertTM). In addition, the FSAS algal toxin shellfish monitoring programme was launched in January 2001 and is set to run until March 2005, at a total cost of £2,012,954 plus approximately £250,000 per annum for charter vessels required to collect samples. No new research has taken place into the alleged link between fish farms and outbreaks of ASP.

Higher Education

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided, or plans to provide, financial assistance for the creation of a Scottish Centre for Creative Industries at Napier University's Craighouse Campus and, if so, whether it will detail (a) the amount concerned and from what source any monies were or will be provided, (b) the mechanism employed to secure and distribute any such funding and (c) what consultations have been or will be undertaken, and with whom, in the relevant industry sectors to ensure the future viability and success of any such centre.

Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30160 on 15 October 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the membership of the accreditation panel for community programmes for offenders will be selected, as referred to in target 9 in the justice section of Building a Better Scotland – Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys .

Dr Richard Simpson: Individuals will be selected so that the panel provides a balance of expertise in programme development/delivery and the principles of effective practice or accreditation. The membership will draw on experience gained in academic institutions, existing accreditation processes, local authorities and the voluntary sector although individual members will be independent and not act as representatives of any of these groups. I hope to be in a position to announce details of the chair and membership of the panel within the next few weeks.

Justice

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether convictions of murder, rape or other serious crimes of violence and, in particular, the names of those convicted of such crimes are invariably a matter within the public domain; if so, whether the interim release on bail pending appeal is also a matter within the public domain and, if this is not the case, what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: The names of convicted adult offenders and the crimes of which they have been convicted are in the public domain. The information is available from the Depute Principal Clerk of Justiciary at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh.

  Trials of children for serious offences are held in public but the proceedings are subject to statutory reporting restrictions. The names of convicted children could not be disclosed by the media unless the reporting restrictions were dispensed with by the court during the trial or by the Scottish ministers after the trial.

  On the grant of interim liberation, the names of adult offenders are also in the public domain. All court proceedings involving children are covered by the statutory reporting restrictions. This would therefore include proceedings on the grant of interim liberation pending appeal.

Justice

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is its policy to support non-disclosure in relation to release on bail pending appeal of those convicted of murder, rape and other serious crimes of violence and, if this is not its policy, whether it will undertake to keep the police and victims informed of such releases on bail.

Mr Jim Wallace: On the issue of disclosure of the names of adult appellants given interim liberation, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30216 on 16 October 2002.

  I understand the Crown has a system in place for alerting victims and next of kin when a person convicted of a serious and violent crime is granted interim liberation pending appeal.

  So far as notification of the police is concerned, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28839 on 13 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

   http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to relax the restrictions in section 59 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that bar persons under the age of 21 years from being co-opted on to local authority committees.

Peter Peacock: We do not believe that this legislation prevents people under the age of 21 being co-opted to council committees and therefore we have no plans to amend it.

Prison Service

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what average forfeiture of remission period was awarded as punishment for breaches of discipline as detailed in table 34 of the Statistical Bulletin: Prison Statistics Scotland 2001 .

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  6.2 days.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests have been received to vary the contract for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock since commencement of the contract.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  To date, SPS has made no request for a change of service under Clause 7 of the Minute of Agreement. Details of the contract are published on the SPS website at: www.sps.gov.uk.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many variations in the contract for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock have been approved since commencement of the contract.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  To date, there have been no changes of service under Clause 7 of the Minute of Agreement. Details of the contract are published on the SPS website at: www.sps.gov.uk.

Prison Service

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is in place within the contract for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock to vary the contract to take account of any changes in policy relating to prisoners.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Clause 7 of the Minute of Agreement contains provision for SPS to request a change to the service provided. Details are given in the contract which is published on the SPS website at: www.sps.gov.uk.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much its agencies spent on (a) television, (b) radio, (c) national newspaper and (d) local newspaper advertising in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02 and how much it and its agencies expect to spend in 2002-03.

Mr Andy Kerr: Media spend on television, radio and press is detailed in the following table. It is not possible to split the amount spent on national and local press as the figures are not recorded separately. The figures could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

  
 Period
Press Television
Radio  1999-2000
£674,000 £917,000
£171,000  2000-01
£1,071,000 £1,867,000
£190,000  2001-02
£1,311,000 £4,101,000
£369,000  2002-03 
(to date)  £1,163,000
£2,560,000 £473,000


  The figures for 2002-03 are the amount spent on media to date. The amount of media planned for the remainder of the year is currently under review.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of it and its agencies’ advertisements were broadcast on commercial radio from 1 August to 30 September 2002; what the subject was of each advertisement; how often each advertisement was broadcast, giving the total number of broadcasting slots and the duration of each slot; how much each advertisement cost to make, including agency costs, and how much each broadcast advertisement cost.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is detailed in the following table:

  
 Campaign
Production Costs No. 
of Spots Duration (Seconds)
Media Costs  Children’s 
Panel £3,238
1,584 30
£44,016  Drugs
Repeats 2,289
30/20 £22,577
 Public Internet Access Points
Repeats 729
30 £14,508
 M74 Repeats
25 20
£ 2,643  Travel 
Awareness £1,992
252 40
£23,733  Race
£12,936 121
30 £ 4,201
 Drug Driving
Repeats 277
30/20 £ 8,086
 Historic Scotland
Repeats 684
30/20 £49,577